Meriden in South Central Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Ancient Burial Ground

Meriden School For Boys

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 14, 2010

1. Ancient Burial Ground Marker

Inscription. The 30 to 40 boys buried on this site were forgotten children of their time. Delinquent, orphaned or abandoned they came to live at the Connecticut School for Boys, a reform school that occupied these grounds from the early 1800s until 1973. The boys who lie here died of childhood diseases or accidents. Often, there was no family to claim their bodies, and they were buried in unmarked graves. The names of most of the boys are unknown, the tall trees surrounding this spot were planted in 1947 as a memorial to mark their resting place. The Connecticut General Assembly designated this small graveyard an “Ancient Burial Ground” in 1986, assuring that the boys will lie here, undisturbed, in perpetuity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1973.

Location. 41° 32.85′ N, 72° 48.055′ W. Marker is in Meriden in South Central Region, Connecticut. It can be reached from Lewis Avenue 0.1 miles north of Interstate 691, on the right when traveling north. Located on the grounds of the Midstate Medical Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 435 Lewis Avenue, Meriden CT 06451, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley,

on the Connecticut Shoreline,

and in Greater New Haven.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Haven County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Meriden’s Traffic Tower (approx. 0.7 miles away); Meriden Soldiers Memorial

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(approx. 0.8 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 0.8 miles away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cristoforo Colombo (approx. 0.8 miles away); Center Congregational Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Meriden World War I Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); City of Meriden's World War I Roll of Honor (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meriden.

Also see . . . Connecticut State Library, Connecticut School for Boys. (Submitted on January 16, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Ancient Burial Ground Marker and Memorial Trees image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 14, 2010

2. Ancient Burial Ground Marker and Memorial Trees

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 14, 2010

3. Ancient Burial Ground Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 4,168 times since then and 327 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 16, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.